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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of the distinct terminology mentioned in the text?
What is the purpose of the distinct terminology mentioned in the text?
What do the new terms mentioned in the text provide for firefighters?
What do the new terms mentioned in the text provide for firefighters?
Why is it important to understand a building's structural design when assessing danger associated with structures involved in fire?
Why is it important to understand a building's structural design when assessing danger associated with structures involved in fire?
What are the five fundamental structural designs incorporated by buildings, as mentioned in the text?
What are the five fundamental structural designs incorporated by buildings, as mentioned in the text?
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What height is considered the threshold for a structure to be classified as 'enclosed'?
What height is considered the threshold for a structure to be classified as 'enclosed'?
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What is the rationale for retention of the current fall height criteria?
What is the rationale for retention of the current fall height criteria?
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What is the equivalent of one story of a building in terms of fall height?
What is the equivalent of one story of a building in terms of fall height?
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What percentage of victims who fell >20 ft suffered serious injuries according to the report?
What percentage of victims who fell >20 ft suffered serious injuries according to the report?
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In what year was the fall height criterion for adults established as a component of the Decision Scheme?
In what year was the fall height criterion for adults established as a component of the Decision Scheme?
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What is considered a potentially fatal fall for any firefighter who needs to make an emergency evacuation?
What is considered a potentially fatal fall for any firefighter who needs to make an emergency evacuation?
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In what percentage of disorientation cases examined was there no sprinkler system in the structure or the system did not operate?
In what percentage of disorientation cases examined was there no sprinkler system in the structure or the system did not operate?
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What did the U.S. Fire Administration note about high-rise structures more than 20 years ago?
What did the U.S. Fire Administration note about high-rise structures more than 20 years ago?
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What was documented about members of fire departments in New York during a working structure fire incident?
What was documented about members of fire departments in New York during a working structure fire incident?
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What did NIOSH document about FDNY firefighters in 2005?
What did NIOSH document about FDNY firefighters in 2005?
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What are some hazards that firefighters in opened structures face?
What are some hazards that firefighters in opened structures face?
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What type of structures lack operable sprinkler systems?
What type of structures lack operable sprinkler systems?
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Which type of structure requires a worst-case scenario approach due to potential fire size and fuel loading?
Which type of structure requires a worst-case scenario approach due to potential fire size and fuel loading?
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What type of structures have a higher risk for firefighter fatalities than opened structures?
What type of structures have a higher risk for firefighter fatalities than opened structures?
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What size of structures are considered enclosed due to the difficulty in quick ventilation and evacuation during a worst-case scenario?
What size of structures are considered enclosed due to the difficulty in quick ventilation and evacuation during a worst-case scenario?
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What are some hazards that firefighters face in enclosed structures?
What are some hazards that firefighters face in enclosed structures?
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What type of structures lack windows or doors for prompt ventilation and emergency evacuation?
What type of structures lack windows or doors for prompt ventilation and emergency evacuation?
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What is a factor that determines firefighter survival according to the text?
What is a factor that determines firefighter survival according to the text?
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What can make structures enclosed and dangerous by preventing emergency evacuation during interior attacks?
What can make structures enclosed and dangerous by preventing emergency evacuation during interior attacks?
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In which type of structure are windows or doors available for prompt ventilation and emergency evacuation?
In which type of structure are windows or doors available for prompt ventilation and emergency evacuation?
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What type of environment do firefighters work in, according to the text?
What type of environment do firefighters work in, according to the text?
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What plays a role in disorientation and evacuation according to the text?
What plays a role in disorientation and evacuation according to the text?
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What type of structures typically lack operable sprinkler systems?
What type of structures typically lack operable sprinkler systems?
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What materials can be used to enclose windows or doors in architecturally designed or altered structures?
What materials can be used to enclose windows or doors in architecturally designed or altered structures?
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What was the cause of death for the three firefighters from engine company 11 in the Philadelphia high-rise building fire?
What was the cause of death for the three firefighters from engine company 11 in the Philadelphia high-rise building fire?
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What factor eventually stopped the fire in the high-rise building in Philadelphia?
What factor eventually stopped the fire in the high-rise building in Philadelphia?
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What was the primary reason for the destruction caused by the high-rise fire in the First Interstate Bank building in Los Angeles?
What was the primary reason for the destruction caused by the high-rise fire in the First Interstate Bank building in Los Angeles?
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What did the incident involving the First Interstate Bank building demonstrate about high-rise buildings?
What did the incident involving the First Interstate Bank building demonstrate about high-rise buildings?
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What contributed to the firefighter fatality in Fall River, Massachusetts, despite the presence of an operable sprinkler system?
What contributed to the firefighter fatality in Fall River, Massachusetts, despite the presence of an operable sprinkler system?
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What was being installed at the First Interstate Bank building at the time of the fire?
What was being installed at the First Interstate Bank building at the time of the fire?
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What was found on the 28th floor despite firefighters radioing that they were on the 30th floor during a high-rise building fire in Philadelphia?
What was found on the 28th floor despite firefighters radioing that they were on the 30th floor during a high-rise building fire in Philadelphia?
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What stopped a high-rise building fire when it reached a certain floor?
What stopped a high-rise building fire when it reached a certain floor?
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What did a high-rise building constructed in 1973 lack at the time of a destructive fire?
What did a high-rise building constructed in 1973 lack at the time of a destructive fire?
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What was considered extremely dangerous during a fire according to incidents mentioned in the text?
What was considered extremely dangerous during a fire according to incidents mentioned in the text?
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What caused firefighter disorientation and fatality in Fall River, Massachusetts?
What caused firefighter disorientation and fatality in Fall River, Massachusetts?
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Study Notes
- Three firefighters from engine company 11 died in a high-rise building fire in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1991.
- They were attempting to ventilate the center stair tower, but became disoriented and ran out of air in their SCBAs.
- Their bodies were later found on the 28th floor, despite their radioing that they were on the 30th floor.
- An eight-member search team also ran out of air in the mechanical area on the 38th floor.
- The fire was eventually stopped when it reached the fully sprinkled 30th floor, and ten sprinkler heads activated at different points of fire penetration.
- The incident emphasized the danger and difficulties of managing operations in a dark, smoke-filled high-rise building.
- In 1988, the Los Angeles City Fire Department faced the most challenging and difficult high-rise fire in the city’s history.
- The fire, which originated on the 12th floor of the First Interstate Bank building, destroyed four floors and damaged a fifth floor.
- The fire claimed one life, injured 35 occupants and 14 fire personnel, and resulted in a property loss of over $5 million.
- The building, constructed in 1973, had no automatic sprinkler system, but one was being installed at the time of the fire.
- The decision was made to activate the system only upon completion of the entire project, leaving the valves controlling the sprinklers on completed floors closed.
- The incident demonstrated the absolute need for automatic sprinklers to provide protection for tall buildings.
- Enclosed structures without an operable sprinkler system are considered extremely dangerous during a fire.
- Even when protected by an operable sprinkler system, operations in an enclosed structure can be potentially fatal.
- An incident occurred in 1987 in Fall River, Massachusetts, where a firefighter died despite the presence of an operable sprinkler system.
- Firefighters became disoriented by the blinding smoke and confusion from entangled hose in the building.
- Numerous hazards were encountered in the large, three-story, enclosed structure involving a dye-processing facility.
- The seat of the fire was located only 20 ft. from the point of entry, but the hazards worked against the firefighters and contributed to the firefighter disorientation and fatality.
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Test your knowledge of risk management in firefighter operations with this quiz. Learn about effective strategies for extinguishing structure fires and keeping firefighters safe.